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Thu
Jan
20
Signs of winter wildlife are there to find, for those who know how to look! Discover the world of wildlife tracking on this educational walk.
Price: FREE
Thurs., Jan. 20 at 9:30 am Beaver Pond Reservation Merrimac, MA Join naturalist-educator Laura Trudel for this fun and educational walk in the woods! We'll learn about the winter habits of local wildlife and what kinds of signs to look for in the snow, in the trees, and on the water. Photo: Bob Metcalf
Wed
Jan
26
Webinar - Meet Kyle Robidoux, local trail runner who has participated in over 25 marathons and ultramarathons, and hear about his journey overcoming the challenges of running while blind.
Price: FREE
January 26, 2022 6:30 -7:30 pm Virtual Event Meet local trail runner Kyle Robidoux, and hear about his journey overcoming the continuing challenges of running while visually impaired. Kyle has now completed over 25 marathons and ultramarathons, including five Boston Marathons and three 100-mile races. In the summer of 2018, Kyle, with the support of his sighted guides, completed the grueling six-day, 120-mile Transrockies Run, which includes over 23,000 feet of elevation gain. Kyle has focused his professional and personal career on building community. He has spent 20 years working in the nonprofit sector, including as a housing advocate helping individuals staying in shelters find permanent homes and as a community organizer. Most recently he has directed three programs for a local blindness organization. During this program, Kyle will talk about his work with local athletes and sighted guides, as well as his adventures on trails around the country. Read more about Kyle HERE
Sun
Feb
06
POSTPONED Join Greenbelt for this walk on Whittier Hill in Amesbury
Price: FREE
POSTPONED! Please check back here for an update soon! This walk will likely take place this summer. Go ahead and sign up if you want to receive an update email! Thank you!
Black History Walk
Whittier Hill Reservation
Summer 2022
Led by a Northeastern University PhD student
Join Greenbelt for this History Walk on Whittier Hill.
Prior to English settlement, the Whittier Hill area in Amesbury and other sites in the Powwow River watershed were homelands of the Pentucket, a branch of the Pennacook-Abenaki people of the lower Merrimack Valley in New Hampshire.
Whittier Hill is named for Thomas Whittier who sailed for America in 1638, though it was pronounced Whitcher Hill by locals from the early years of Amesbury.
Thomas Whittier’s great-grandson, America’s "Quaker Poet" and abolitionist John Greenleaf Whitter, lived in a home below the hill for 56 years.
Mon
Feb
07
Webinar - Explore how art and nature have been linked throughout history with Jessica Yurwitz from Slow River Studio and then enjoy a guided botanical sketching lesson using live plants.
Price: FREE
February 7, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Art in Nature
Speaker: Jessica Yurwitz, Slow River Studio
*Venue: on Zoom (RSVP for the link!)
Explore how art and nature have been linked throughout history with Jessica Yurwitz from Slow River Studio and then enjoy a guided botanical sketching lesson using live plants--to add a little greenery to your winter evening!
Sun
Feb
13
Discover how to find signs of wildlife in the winter.
Price: FREE
Feb. 13, 1:00-2:30 pm Atherton Reservation West Newbury, MA Join Greenbelt and North Shore Nature Programs for this winter tracking adventure! We'll look for signs of birds and mammals and learn where animals live and sleep in the winter. Please RSVP to get the latest weather and parking updates.
Sun
Mar
06
Join Dr. Danielle Perry to discover how salt marshes show resilience to climate change.
Price: FREE
Coastal Resilience - Walk with a Scientist March 6, 1:00-2:30 pm Rough Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary Rowley, MA Wear your tall boots to discover the world of the salt marsh! We'll delve into the intricate salt marsh ecosystem and learn about how the plants, animals, and other elements make our salt marshes resilient to climate change, and to what extent. Dr. Perry has worked as Mass Audubon's Climate Adaptation Ecologist, studying how various marsh elements provide resilience and how others, such as old irrigation and drainage ditches from the days when the Great Marsh was an agricultural hotspot, can detract from that resiliency. She'll discuss the effects of sea level rise, marsh accretion, and more. No prior knowledge of marsh ecology is necessary to learn from this educational walk, open to the public! Please RSVP as space is limited.
Fri
Mar
11
NEW DATE! You don't always have to travel far to explore nature--there's plenty to look at in your own town or city. Discover some urban nature observation tips from a Latino Outdoors guide.
Price: FREE
*Please note the new date! If you've already signed up, we'll email you with an update! Thank you!
*March 11, 6:30 - 8:00pm
¡Crecemos!: The Latine Community Outdoors (lecture open to all, of course!)
Speaker: Lucas McDiarmid, Latino Outdoors leader
Venue: the historic Duck Mill Building's Community Room, 4 Union Street (across from the New Balance outlet store)
Parking is in the public lot next to the Duck Bridge
You don't always have to travel far to explore nature--there's plenty to look at in your own town or city. Discover some urban nature observation tips from a Latino Outdoors guide and gain a new appreciation for the plants and animals of your own hometown.
Wed
Mar
16
Learn about the Japanese art of Forest Bathing from , a meditative approach to enjoying nature with all your senses from Nadine Mazzola, Certified Forest Therapist.
Price: FREE
March 16, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Shinrin-Yoku: Forest Bathing
Speaker: Nadine Mazzola, Certified Forest Therapist
Venue: HC Media 101, 2 Merrimack Street, Haverhill (Maximum attendance will be 50, due to COVID restrictions.)
Learn about the Japanese art of Forest Bathing, a meditative approach to enjoying nature with all your senses. After the talk, Nadine will guide us on a virtual journey as we immerse ourselves in Mark Knight's gorgeous short film, Shinrin-Yoku.
Woods & Water Walk March 17, 9:30 - 11:30 am Tompson Street Reservation Gloucester, MA Join guide Ann Mahoney on this invigorating hike at one of Greenbelt's largest properties. We'll see a rare Red Maple Swamp, tread an old road dating back hundreds of years, and take in scenic vistas -- if it's clear day, we may be able to spot Mt. Agamenticus in Maine! Please RSVP as space is limited!
Castle View Hike April 5, 9:30-11:30 am Winnekenni Park Conservation Area Haverhill, MA Join Greenbelt and the Haverhill Trails Committee's Jim Petty on this scenic hike, taking in lake vistas, views of the castle and discover the wonderful trail system through the woods. Photo: Ann Jones
Wed
Apr
13
Rhonda Anderson (Iñupiaq-Athabascan) will describe Indigenous ways of being and concepts of place.
Price: FREE
Speaker: Rhonda Anderson (Iñupiaq-Athabascan)
6:30 - 8:00pm
Virtual Event – link will be emailed the week of the event. (Maximum Attendance is 450)
How do you describe your relationship with nature? Our speaker will describe Indigenous ways of being and concepts of place -- the reciprocal relationship between humans and their homeland -- and will share her perspective on what it means to make a home in a new land.
Sun
Apr
24
Learn the basics of birding with an enthusiastic guide!
Price: FREE
Birding for Beginners April 24, 8:30 - 10:30 am Atherton Reservation West Newbury, MA Learn the basics of birding from scientist and birder Laura Vehring. The group will learn to choose and use the right kind of binoculars, how to spot birds in several habitats, what to listen for in the woods, how to use a few popular bird ID apps, and the features of several common local birds. Please bring a pair of binoculars, if you have some, and a notebook and pencil. If you do not have binoculars, please contact jane@ecga.org to request to borrow a pair -- quantities are limited! Please RSVP as this is a small group. Photo: Neil Ungerleider
Thu
May
05
A fun partner event with the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club.
Price: FREE
Aquarids Meteor Shower May 5, 8:15 - 10:00 pm John J. Donovan Reservation & Sagamore Hill Conservation Area Hamilton, MA Bring a flashlight and climb Sagamore Hill to watch one of the year's best meteor showers. The North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club members will also have their telescopes set up, so you can take turns taking a closer look at galaxies, nebulae, stars, planets and more! The Club members will answer your questions about the night sky while you enjoy the Aquarids Meteor Shower. Please bring a flashlight (with a red gel or red light option, if possible) and be prepared for the 1/4 mile walk to the top of the hill, away from traffic, towns and other human-made lights. Please RSVP so we know how many NSAAC members with telescopes to invite. Photo: NASA/ESA/Hubble Heritage Team
Sun
May
15
There are a lot of edible plants, if you know where to look!
Price: FREE
Wild Edibles for Families May 15, 3:00-4:30 pm Ordway Reservation West Newbury, MA Join Greenbelt and North Shore Nature Programs to discover wild edible plants! Our leader will show us how to find and identify a variety of delicious things to eat in fields, in the woods, and maybe right in your backyard! Appropriate for all ages. Please RSVP as space is limited.
Birds, Bees & Butterflies May 21, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm Cox Reservation Essex, MA Join us to peek inside the beehives at Cox Reservation from the safety of a screened-in tent! This show and tell introduces children of all ages to the importance of bees and other pollinators. In addition to the hive opening, we'll have snacks and activities scattered around the property. Bathrooms will be available. Bring a picnic and come enjoy the day! Rain date: May 22 Please RSVP so we can plan for snacks and supplies!
Some events in the 2022 Film & Lecture Series will be in person, others will be virtual.
PO Box 1026
82 Eastern Avenue
Essex, MA 01929
e. ecga@ecga.org
p. 978.768.7241
Greenbelt thanks the photographers whose work is featured prominently on our website: Jerry Monkman, Dorothy Monnelly, Adrian Scholes, David Alden St. Pierre & Neil Ungerleider